Grow Your Fund is a daily post that gives you a chance to win prizes by checking in on all the various challenges you are participating in. You can choose to participate in one, two or even all of the challenges giving you even more opportunities to Grow Your Fund!
The Challenges
No Dining Out: The concept is simple, lower your family’s dining out bill and add the money you save to your fund.
Minniemizing for the Mouse: Get in shape for your trip to Disney by walking at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The average person walks 8 or more miles a day at Disney World. Your feet will thank you!
Not going to Disney? Don’t worry. You can participate too. Just commit to working out at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week!
Budget Challenge: Can your family stay on budget this month for groceries, entertainment, dining, etc? Do you think you could even challenge yourself not to spend a dime 5 days this month? Be sure to report on your spending vs your budget every day. The goal is to be able to add the extra money saved at the end of the month to your fund!
*If you haven’t set a budget yet, you might want to check out this post.
Decluttering Challenge: Is your stuff starting to overtake your house? Do you feel like your kids room is full of too much junk and not enough fun? If so, I challenge you to find a new home for just 25 items a day for the next 30 days. This could be 25 articles of clothing, 25 books you no longer read, 25 toys your kids ignore. Have a box for items to donations, a box for items to sell and throw the rest away! At the end of the challenge, have a yard sale and add the earnings to your fund!
The prizes
At the end of each month, I will pick FOUR winners who will each receive $25 to add to their fund. Look for the winners to be announced on the 3rd of each month.
How to enter
Leave a comment with the title of the challenges it is for. You can participate in one, two, three or even all four challenges. There will be one winner per challenge, and winners can win multiple times! It’s all done by using Random.org, so if your number comes up and you are eligible, you win! In order to be eligible to win, you must actively participate in the challenge for at least FIVE calendar days.
Click below for even more details on each challenge…
No Dining
- Take a look at your current dining out budget. How much did you spend last month going out to eat? That is money that could have gone into your fund instead! Try cutting your out to eat costs this month and adding the difference to your fund.
- Set a weekly dining out budget, if you resist going out to eat, add that amount to your fund instead.
- If you were seriously about to go out to eat (like had your coat on and was going out the door or pulled into the drive thru and then pulled back out), add the amount you would have spent to your fund.
- Going out to eat and using a coupon or paying with a gift card? You could add that amount to your fund too. For example… if you had a $25 gift card to Cracker Barrel and you used it, you could take $25 cash out of your budget and add it to the fund. Or if you used a $10 coupon, you could take $10 cash out of the budget and add it to the fund.
- You must challenge yourself. Try to spend less than you spend now. If you don’t go out to eat at all, challenge yourself to try new meals this month. As long as you are challenging yourself when it comes to your family’s eating habits, you can participate!
- You are allowed 1 freebie meal that you don’t have to count or report back to us about. Please report on everything else though so we can encourage and support one another!
- Free meals do not count against you. This is a challenge to spend less money going out to eat than you usually spend. If someone else is paying for the meal or you have a coupon to make it free, great!
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Minniemizing for the Mouse
- I need to get fit for the mouse. My feet hurt so bad from all that walking and for once I’d love to experience Disney without being in pain. We are going in November, so I am hoping to make a big lifestyle change between now and then. I can’t do it alone and so I need the help from all of you!
- Check in each day and report on your progress. The goal is to exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. For those of us going to Disney, walking for those 20 minutes is a great way to not only get in shape, but prepare our feet.
- It really doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are moving!
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Budget Challenge
- Everyone needs a budget. Budgets will help you to be in control of your money without your money being in control of you. You dictate where your money goes and how it is spent.
- Don’t have a budget? I’ve written a few articles that should help you set one… How to Set a Budget and How to Set a Grocery Budget. You’ll find even more helpful advice under Getting Started Couponing and Your Fund.
- Each day, check in and let us know how much you spent the day before and if you stayed under budget or not. We aren’t here to critique your budget (unless you ask!), but we are here to support you in staying on track!
- Also feel free to include bargain brags. Did you find a great deal or do something creative to save money, be sure to share it with all of us!
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Decluttering Challenge
- It doesn’t take long for the stuff to start taking over your home. The kids rooms start overflowing with broken, neglected and just plain weird no idea where they came from toys. Your stockpile starts to spread from the kitchen, to the hall, to your bathtub. You start finding that the home for more and more items is the middle of your living room floor. Etc!
- It can be overwhelming to take on the task of decluttering your home, but the end rewards are so worth the effort. To make the process easy, I challenge you to find just 25 items every day to find a new home for. Get a box labeled donations, one labeled to sell, and one for trash. Go through 25 items a day and either put it in one of the 3 boxes or find a new permanent place for it.
- At the end of 30 days, you will have an organized home and you can have a yard sale to add more money to your fund!
- Be sure to post every day that you have gone through your 25 items and found a new home for them. Don’t just put them back where they don’t belong.
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Good luck!
Martha A says
Decluttering: so far today–the paper monster has been reduced to a small imp in size. Haven’t found anything worth selling, but have uncovered several soon to expire coupons. Hope that counts for something! Also found several library books to return. Cleaned laundry room and have several nearly empty containers of detergent to finish up this week! Reinstituting one in, one out rule.
Susan says
Dairy Queen came out with the NutterButter Blizzard and boy did that blow my diet for the day! yummmmm
No exercise either!
No decluttering!
Went grocery shopping with hubby and of course he blew my budget!
Day 2 was NOT a good day at all. : (
I’ll try better on day 3.
Shannon says
No Dining Out – we went to friends’ house for dinner
Minnimize Challenge – 5.5 miles on the elliptical
Budget Challenge – So far so good – had to buy dishwasher detergent but got it on sale and with a coupon and bought ink for my printer with my Office Depot rewards
Tina says
Dining out- did not dine out
Budget- spent $50 on groceries. still on budget with 4 more days to go.
Denise says
Budget – Haven’t spent any yet!
Minniemize – Jogged 2.5 miles this morning and went for an evening bike ride.
Declutter – Ugh. Not well today.
No Dining Out – Made all meals today :)
Cathie says
Minniemize: Well it poured here all day. So instead of sitting at my desk during my lunch break, I headed to the grocery store and walked up and down the aisles doing “coupon recon” for my trip later in the week. I say it totally counts as exercise!
Decluttering: packed up all the “baby” toys that the boys are too old for and put in the yard sale tote. This was sad but necessary.
Coral says
No dining out: took lunch to work, ate leftovers for dinner
Minimize: Wii Fit for 30 minutes: boxing, step aerobics, yoga
Budget: no money spent today, ran to grocery store last night for a couple sale items, got free redbox movie
Kerry says
No dining out: power was out much of the day….lunch at McDs for Grace and her friend
Brigitte says
No dining out: My mom paid for lunch today so I didn’t spend any money in this category but my boyfriend did. surprise, surprise.
minniemize: didn’t snack at all today and tried to watch portion control. only exercise was walking around the grocery store for a bit.
budget: still tracking everything in my new spreadsheet on excel. when I was at meijer today, I found 2 Carters outfits on clearance for my son for next year around 75% off which I didn’t mind paying!
declutter: I was going to clear out my final closet to find items for my yard sale on Saturday but went to the grocery store instead because I needed more fruit baby food for tomorrow. I’ll get to the closet tomorrow night for sure.
Meagan says
No Dining Out: Ate lunch out today because I woke up late and didn’t have time to pack my lunch.
Minniemize Me: nothing today due to only a few hours of sleep
Declutter: not today but hoping for tomorrow
Budget: staying on track right now but gas is killing me
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
The price of gas is just terrible. :(
Bethany M says
No dining out yesterday. Had dinner at a friends house.
Julie says
No dining out- having baked potato bar for dinner, no lunch or breakfast as I am ill, but starting to feel better. Kids are in school and daycare, so my son packs his lunch and my daughters is free. My hubby took leftovers with him for lunch.
Declutter- having a yard sale this weekend, going through nooks and crannys. Got several camping items we will sell…all money will go to disney fund
minniemize- not hungry helps, 20 min walk at work from parking lot to door helps, and so does eating good food. Will weigh in tomorrow.
budget- doing great better than most I am sure. I haven’t spent any money.
Melanie says
No Dining Out – we had spaghetti last night and I’m making tuna casserole tonight, so no eating out for us!
Melanie says
Minniemize – I walked 2 miles on the treadmill today. Whew!
Melanie says
I don’t know if we’re supposed to leave a separate post for each category, or all in one post. I didn’t participate last month, and I see it done both ways above. I’m going to separate my posts until I hear otherwise.
Budget – no money spent yesterday or today.
Rhea says
I am entering for the following challenges:
Decluttering–
I KNOW this is needing done! I will go home tonight and get my first 25 items done…
Minimizing for the Mouse–
Today will be day 1 of walking. My daughter has been BEGGING me to start walking with her this summer, but I had some weeks where I did not feel well, then the weather wasn’t cooperating. Now, I feel better and the weather is BEAUTIFUL, even if it is a little hot.
No Dining Out–
I like my mochas and my kids like take out pizza or Teriyaki. Giving these up (for the most part) may be difficult, but would so add to the Disney fund! (I DO NOT want to go into any additional debt to go to Disneyland with my daughter!)
Thanks!
Rhea
Becca says
No Dining Out: my son wanted pizza, so instead of ordering it, we went to the store and got the sandwich thins and cheese (had pizza sauce at home already) and made our own. :) worked out better because he doesn’t like sauce and I always have to order half without sauce!!
Minimizing: we are going to national night out tonight so we’ll be walking around the different activities.
Declutter: working on keeping the kitchen clean. I need a dishwasher fairy to put the clean dishes away!! the dirty dishes clutter up the counter, so I’m putting at least 25 items from the counter into the dishwasher (or hand washing items like bottles) and then from dishwasher to cabinets. plus I organized the baby food jars that I purchased yesterday.
Budget: still working on a budget. our income is unpredictable right now so when we have money we tend to spend it on things we need (and some we don’t!) Did manage to get the car inspected and registered on time this year, so I stuck to that budget! Also shampooing our carpets ourselves and using the free coupon codes for blockbuster and redbox rentals. :) thanks!
Donna B says
Decluttering Challenge—have a MAJOR HEADACHE today—so no housework!!
Donna B says
Budget Challenge–no grocery money spent today
Donna B says
Minniemizing for the Mouse—-have a MAJOR HEADACHE today—so no workouts!!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I hope it goes away soon! :(
Donna B says
No Dining Out—none for us today—REALLY need to get back on my diet!!!
Denise says
declutter – I brought a huge box of magazines to the hospital where I volunteer
budget – took out my budget $$ for the next 2 weeks…
minnemize – walked to the park and back with my son
no dining – made steaks on the grill with corn on the cob and baked potatoes
Rachel W. says
No Dining Out – packed my lunch again today, got up a little earlier and took the time to fry eggs – surprised my 5 year old – who usually gets a pop tart!
Miiniemize – sweaty walk to work from the parking garage and took the steps today.
Budget – Expected to pay a co-pay at my son’s check up today ,but they didn’t take it saying it should be 100% covered. I put the co-pay in my savings account!
Declutter – Working on my son’s bathroom tonight and going through his clothes – he doesn’t need highwaters in his drawers anymore!
Allison says
Minimizing: I ran/walked with the dog for about 20 minutes this morning.
Declutter: I got rid of an old box of hair color and threw out some expired painkillers.
Budget: I’m not planning to spend anything today. I do have a coupon for a free ice cream which I might use.
Kara says
No dining out: Making pizza burgers for supper.
MM: Did Jillian Michaels’s no more trouble zone dvd last night before (all but the lunges-too hard on my knees)
declutter: went through my 4 year old DD drawer and took out all the 3t stuff and some of the 4t stuff that she doesn’t wear- she has way too much clothes (mostly hand me downs though) put it in the garage sale pile
Tamara says
No Dining out: No dining out, dinner at home, sandwichs and chips
MM: NOTHING yesterday
Budget: Need to print off monthly budget and review with family
Declutter: Have some mags I need to go thur this evening! Thinking about school clothes and cleaning kids closets
Elisa says
Dining out: No dining out yesterday.
MM: Ran 4 miles yesterday
Budget: Money is tight but bills are paid.
Declutter: cleaned one junk drawer (LOL)
Karin Brown says
Dining out: No dining out yesterday! We stuck to our menu.
MM: Took the girls to the park yesterday.
Budget: Sticking to the plan. I’d like to tighten up in a few areas to get ready for fall clothes shopping though.
Declutter: I have a pile of things to list on EBay. Now just need to get to it!
Jennifer says
Budget – no money spent
Dining – no dining out
Minniemize – chased down golf balls hit by kids in the front yard and across the road for a couple of hours
Tiffany H says
Well, I am trying to Minniemize for our trip to Disney and also just for myself. I have lost 8 lbs so far but really need to kick it up a notch. So this week I will be adding an exercise to my routine and really hope it helps!!!!
Also I am try to declutter as I am hoping to have a yard sale and we will be moving in a few months!! I want to take less stuff with us and get a clean start!!
Sharon says
MM: Just laundry and running after a toddler!
DC: I wonder if picking up the same 25 toys a dozen times every day would count for this category? Going to have son go thru his 3 years of mags and get rid of 25.
Budget: It’s going to be a LONG 2.5 weeks until payday – but the bills are paid and the pantry is full. We can do this!
NDO: Homemade chili last night & Brinner on the menu for tonight!
Vickie Jones says
Budget
So far so good (2 days in) our major back to school expenses are behind us, do need to research an digital to analaog converter box for our TV since we shut cable off…Kicking myself for not getting one with the coupon last year just in case!
Minimize
Still doing great, no weight loss, but I know I’m getting in enough activity so that will come
DeClutter
More deepclean right now, hand scrubbing my tile kitchen floor grout!
theresa says
on budget, no dining out, no exercise, ate garbage, no decluttering
Amy W says
No dining out:
No dining out yesterday! Made mashed potatoes; corn; and then a new green bean, bacon, yellow pepper, and red onion dish for supper. It turned out pretty good :)
Minniemizing:
Stayed under calorie and fat budget yesterday! Also walked a little over 2 miles.
Decluttering:
Laundry
Budget:
Went a little over at the grocery store, but we needed to do some stocking up.
Crystal says
No Dining Out: No dining out so far this month : )
Minniemizing for the Mouse: Did a Pilates upper and abs workout yesterday. : )
I went to bed late because we lost power and didn’t workout this morning
Budget Challenge: Within budget and saving for a Disney weekend for the Night of Joy (Friday only) and Epcot on Saturday : )
Decluttering Challenge: Was organizing my coupons for my shopping trip when I lost power last night and didn’t get to finish :(
Lee says
Exercise…60 minutes of water aerobics
Dining…our challenge this month is to cut back to dining out once a week. I fixed burgers, baked beans, and cucumber salad last night.
Budget…I have set a grocery budget of $200 this month for our family of 5. $0 spent yesterday.
Declutter…recycled old magazines and newspapers from family room and bedrooms.
Heather says
Budget: I came in under budget for our school supplies.
No Dining Out: I already have dinner in the crock pot.
Minniemize: Took a morning walk.
Declutter: Cleaning out the coat closet
Moe says
Budget -Taking the kids to a free museum today. We are packing lunches to have a picnic at the park. FREE!! Which means No Dining Out.
MinnieMe – Walked around the track this morning for 30 min.
heather h says
No dining out for us.
Beth says
No dining out-we went to our local aquatic center night which was sponsored by our orthodontist and ate hot-dogs for free. Yay!
tawna says
No Dining Out: None! Almost stopped for lunch on my way home with kids for lunch but we went home and had quesadillas and tacos instead! Oatmeal for breakfast. Steak potatoes and zucchini for dinner.
Budget: Zero spent so far in August. Trying to hold out til Friday – grocery shopping day.
Minniemize: Gotta get to exercising. Need to wake up earlier and do it before enjoying my quiet no kids time…
Declutter: Cleaned out fridge. Caught up on a mountain of laundry that I now have to fold today.
Michelle says
Budget: spent $76.50 on groceries yesterday (my budget is $100) not bad for a weeks worth of groceries for a family of 5. I was also able to include items that will be added to my stockpile
Declutter: cleaned out my closet and donated the items to a local charity. We can actually walk in to our walk in closet again YEAH!
No dining out: no eating our for us yesterday. I was really tempted to grab something on our way home from the store, but decided I would rather put that money towards something I really want
Minniemize: didn’t do as well in this area, but today is a new day
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
You did great on your budget! :)
Hillary says
Budget: doing alright so far! Haven’t spent anything. Have a budget in mind for our baby shower this weekend, but other than that we’re not planning on spending any money this week.
Minniemize: take the dog out for a walk this morning and spend time playing outside with my kiddo and little brother who is visiting today. Have to be careful to not over do it, being pregnant and already feeling worn out at 8am!
No Dining Out: Had free kid scoop coupons to ColdStone and took the little guys out for ice cream last night. Didn’t spend anything on me, just shared a few bites with them!
Declutter: Posted a “for sale” list on facebook to all my friends and family about the clothes, CDs, and misc home stuff. There’s got to be 100 different things I have for sale right now! And that’s not even all of the stuff I need to clear out!
EllenO says
Decluttering: Yesterday we went through the wall unit and found a whole stack of Disney VHS tapes and a bunch of puzzles that my kids have outgrown. This morning we donated them all to the kids’ old preschool so that other kids can enjoy them now. :-)
Angela N says
Budget – nothing spent, earned about $189 in interest from rewards checking accounts.
Declutter – Finished pantry yesterday, working on my clothes today. Trying to downsize to a smaller dresser.
No dining – staying home, making dinner.
Julie H says
No Dining Out – We didn’t eat out yesterday at all. Yay! Fiery fettuccine for dinner.
Budget – Nothing spent yesterday.
jennifer says
no dining out-we ate at home yesterday-it was too hot to leave!
budget-took a little hit due to some unforseen expenses, but it will be back on track this week!
CJ says
Minniemize- I still been walking everyday for 30 minutes, in the heat. Burnes 200 calories. I have been doing great with portion control.
No dining out- I made shrimp alfredo last night w/ wheat past. Hubby took leftovers for lunch. Tonight we grill.
Katie says
MM – only 9:30 am and I am already at 10,000 steps!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
Wow! You’re amazing! :)
Clare C. says
No Dining Out: Nothing since Friday. Had burgers, fries, and a jello salad for dinner.
Decluttering: Worked all day on this. Hubby installed a huge new bookshelf in our living room so sorted and rearranged our book collection all day. Books are a weakness of mine so we have a lot. Did get rid of just a few but the rest now look way less cluttered and aren’t stacked all over the house. :)
Budget: Overspent last week and then picked up Angel Food order on Saturday so going to see how long we can go without purchasing any groceries, except milk, bread, and produce.
Angel says
I need to revamp myself and do this from the beginning!!! :o)
No Dining Out: I like to get myself a frappucino from starbucks once in a while, well my neighbor had gotten a frappucino maker from her hubby as a gift, so I was able to get some for FREE. She loves using the machine and she kept asking me if I wanted to try some out! I got two yesterday, and I am enjoying one now! :o)
Budget: Nothing Spent…. :o)
Minimizing Me: Doing Insanity and walking the children every evening…. We are coming up with new games as we walk! Yesterday was “how many cars can you see?” Tonight I will do all the different sounds! :o)
Decluttering: Clean off my dining table that was full of coupons! It was a mess for a few days! Glad I got that done early. Now I am working on clothes…. :o)
Martha A says
Decluttering Challenge: gleefully recycling food storage containers that are threatening to take over our plastics drawer. And today is recycling pick up! They’ll be gone soon.
Tonya says
No dining out: We had Veggie pizza, a salad & cantaloupe. Hubby took leftovers for work.
Budget: Spent $0
Minniemize me: Water, green tea, portion control
Decluttering: Organized my stockpile & took out a few products for Mama when she comes.
Stephanie S says
Dining Out: No chances of dining out today.
Budget: Prepared my new spreadsheet for August, like I did for July. It’s a big boost when you can see on paper just how much you’re saving each month.
Minniemizing: Stayed under my 1,500 calorie range and drank 64 ounces of water.
Decluttering: Threw away several items from my makeup drawer in our master bathroom that had expired.
Denise says
No Dining Out: packed breakfast and lunch for work – boring but works
Minniemizing for the Mouse: I have a spin class at 12noon
Budget Challenge: definitely staying within budget thanks to Couponing for Disney
Decluttering Challenge: Hubby put up 3 shelves in kitchen so we now have more counter space. the declutter in the kitchen now looks amazing
Kristen D. says
Budget: Spent $0 yesterday and actually had $13.30 come in from a craft sale I wasn’t expecting! WOOT WOOT, added to the fund.
Minniemize: I did good eating wise, kept an eye on my portions and did well with fat/calories.
No Dining Out: Made dinner at home and have leftovers for work! I even have today and tomorrow already planned :D.
Declutter: Returned a few borrowed items to a friend, so they are no longer gunking up my house! <3.
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I love unexpected money!
Katie says
OK, I did mine today!! This is my first month of doing this so I am very excited.
Today when I woke I decluttered my 25 things from my closet. Then, I priced them all and put them in our garage for our yard sale on Saturday. The rest I put back where they went.
Then, I did my exercise by doing some warm – up stretches. Very fun! I did some stretches and then I did some running in place while waiting for the dryer to finish! :)
Mary S says
Declutter – 25 magazines given to local dentist office
Budget – Cleaning own carpet in den and bedroom (kids are gone this am…no tracking in and out) Free labor – mine
Minniemizing – cleaning carpet…its a workout!
No Dining out – made husband’s lunch this am
Amy W says
we really need to clean our carpet! did you rent a machine somewhere?
Mary S says
Amy, I have had this Hoover Steam Vac for about 10 years and I have well got my money’s worth out of it. I think I paid around $150 for it new. Friends and family have borrowed it. It looks like a vaccuum cleaner and is just as easy to use. I steam cleaned my car last week with it.(It has an attachment) I would rather clean my carpet than having to pay a professional to do it. It’ s also great when the kids spill things. My den and bedroom carpet look and smell so much better…… Now I’m thinking I might need to clean the carpet in the study!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I agree! I bought a Bissell a few years ago the day after Christmas. Got an awesome deal, definitely worth it!
Amy W says
awesome! thanks ladies! i guess it’s time to invest in one of those! :) this is the first time we’ve lived somewhere long enough to need it lol.